UN expert urged Russia to stop enforced disappearance of jailed opposition leaders

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 22nd Dec. UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, t Mariana Katzarova on Thursday said that a “pattern of enforced disappearances” of imprisoned dissidents in Russia must end, in a press statement issued in New York.

Mariana Katzarova expressed concern over the situation of opposition politician Alexey Gorinov who was sentenced to 7 years in jail in July 2022 for criticizing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

Ms. Katzarova said she received information that his whereabouts and health status have been unknown since 8 December, when he was last seen at the Vladimir Region Penal Colony No. 2 by his lawyer.

According to Mariana Katzarova the authorities have not allowed him any contact with his lawyer, family or the outside world.

“After his last visit to the penal colony, the lawyer was alarmed that Gorinov was in a life-threatening health condition,” she said.

“I call on the Russian authorities to immediately disclose Gorinov’s whereabouts and his state of health and grant him immediate access to adequate medical care, to his family and his defence lawyers. The practice of enforced disappearance of imprisoned political figures in Russia must end,” she stated.

Ms. Katzarova issued an alert voiced grave concern over the enforced disappearance of jailed opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, whose whereabouts and well-being are still unknown after more than 10 days.